The RLF

Metals Exploration’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program is run through the FCF Minerals Corporation, the subsidiary which operates Runruno. The Runruno project has a very strong community development component with a continuing commitment to behave ethically and contribute to local economic development, while improving the quality of life of its stakeholders and the society at large.

The implementation of the CSR program goes beyond the statutory obligations laid down in the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 and is a voluntary gesture of a company endeavouring to become a positive neighbour. To implement this philosophy, FCF Minerals established the Runruno Livelihood Foundation (The Foundation or RLF) to be its community development arm, which was tasked to establish a strong and lasting relationship with local stakeholders while at the same time fulfilling its commitments to the host communities.

The primary rationale for setting up the Foundation was to separate community development efforts from exploration and mining operations. The Foundation has an entirely separate budget and organization. The Foundation has 11 regular staff and 14 volunteer workers from different disciplines. It is headed by Dr Ernesto Mendoza, a senior executive with more than 35 years experience in managing CSR programs. Ernesto was awarded the Mining Journal’s 2007 Outstanding Achievement award in London for “remarkable work done in the host community of Runruno during the aftermath of Typhoon Paeng" in November of 2006 which buried most parts of the village with a mudslide and where several residents lost their lives. Very recently, FCF community development programs earned further recognition at the Asia Mining Congress in Singapore by winning the Best Community Development Initiative Award, beating other companies including Centerra Gold and PT Freeport of Indonesia.

The Foundation focuses on empowering people so that they are able to help themselves, and supports local improvement programs in education and skills development, health care, sanitation, employment, environmental awareness and literacy. These projects are jointly financed by FCF Minerals in partnership with various local government agencies and managed by a dedicated team of local people. It was officially registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 2006 under SEC Registration No. CN200612122.

Current RLF Projects

One of the current community development projects of the Foundation is its program focused on the Out-of-School Youth (OSY) which won the Best Community Development Initiative Award during the Asia Mining Congress on March 25, 2009 in Singapore. This was the first time an entry from the Philippines had won the award.  The OSY program has to date trained, equipped and employed some 640 OSYs, the majority of which are from the province of Nueva Viscaya, while the others are from the nearby provinces.

In 2008 this particular initiative won the Kabalikat Award from the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region 2. FCF Minerals Corporation was a regional winner because it was recognized for its outstanding contribution to the promotion and enhancement of technical education and skills development. FCF was honoured as an industry partner for focusing on the promotion and development of the country’s middle level manpower.

The Foundation is also currently implementing projects in areas such as the environment, local infrastructure, employment generation, agriculture and skills generation.

•     Environment

       1. Nursery for germination of seedlings for reforestation
       2. Adopt a Mountain where a mountain is reforested
       3. Tree Planting activity
       4. Plant for Life for establishments of nurseries in village schools

•     Infrastructure

       1. Hanging Bridges
       2. Water System Facilities
       3. Irrigation System Facilities
       4. Foot trail & Access roads
       5. Solar dryer
       6. Waiting sheds

•     Employment

       1. SPES – Special Program for Employment of Students (summer)
       2. Road Maintenance
       3. Nursery labourers for senior citizens
       4. 196 employees

•     Livelihood

       1. Pig dispersal
       2. Rattan Craft to include hammock making
       3. Runo Craft for decorative items
       4. Bakery
       5. Banana Chips
       6. Feed store
       7. Compact Demo Farm
       8. Cosmetology & hair science training 7
       9. Goat Dispersal
      10. Junk Shop – income from garbage

•     Livelihood Training & Skills Development Training

       1. Information Technology
       2. Village Electrician course
       3. Dress making/tailoring
       4. Cookery training
       5. Food processing
       6. Backyard Farming Technology training

•     Education

       1. Teachers incentives ( Elementary & Secondary)
       2. Day Care workers incentives ( Downstream)
       3. Literacy program
       4. Accreditation and Equivalency Classes
       5. School assistance

•     Health & Nutrition

       1. Feeding Program
       2. Medical Missions
       3. Dental Mission
       4. Mother’s Class
       5. Medical Doctors
       6. Botica ng Bayan (village drug store)